Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir during the Madaraka Day celebrations at Tononoka grounds in Mombasa. [Photo: Abdulswamad Nassir/ facebook.com]
Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir has rebuked Thursday’s use of mother tongue during Madaraka Day celebrations in Nyeri.
Nassir said there was no point in using local dialect during the national event attended by people who do not understand the Kikuyu language.Kenyans went on social media on Thursday to criticise organisers of the celebrations saying it painted a bad picture and worked against uniting a country deeply divided on tribal lines. During the event several leaders spoke in Kikuyu language.“Speaking in mother tongue at a national event is uncalled for. It is no good. We did not hear people talk Kikamba in Machakos. If it’s held in Kisumu I am not sure if we will have an element of people talking in Luo. A national event must be conducted in a language that is heard and understood by everyone,” Nasir said in his letter published by the Star on Friday.The event was attended by opposition leader Raila Odinga, who, however, was not given opportunity to speak.“Not inviting Raila Odinga to speak during the Madaraka Day celebrations because he is in opposition is typical of this Jubilee Administration.They don’t want people to speak so that they can hide the truth,” he said.“But I am not sure what they are trying to hide, since everything is out there in the open. Kenyans are suffering because of corruption, poverty, unemployment and a dishonest Jubilee government. It’s all in the public limelight that the country is heading in the wrong direction.”He said President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto only visit governors who are friendly and those who play “good boys” politics.“The Uhuru Administration prefers to hold public holiday celebrations where the governors are afraid to speak the truth. The country belongs to all Kenyans and the government should listen to and work with everyone.”